CHAPTER 2 Time At The Orchard #2
And as if right on cue, the door separating the living room and the kitchen swung open, and in walked the glamorous and gorgeous Giselle Collins.
Her deep brown skin glistened from her favorite moisturizer, and she smelled like she had my whole life, like she was the wealthiest woman in the world.
She’d always held herself with such grace, and all heads turned when she entered a room.
She was charismatic, intelligent, and the sweetest person you’d ever meet.
She had the biggest heart I’d ever witnessed, rivaled only by her wife’s.
Elizabeth “Liz” Collins was every bit as loving and caring as Mama Giselle.
She was gorgeous and intelligent, but where Mama Giselle was short, thick, and curvy, Mama Liz was more on the tall, slender side and very toned.
She was more into fieldwork, whereas Mama Giselle preferred the business.
They complemented each other well, though, even if they were into different things.
Growing up with those two as my parents was nothing short of amazing.
Morgan and I never wanted for anything, and we were always showered with unconditional love and understanding.
I’d even inherited my love for all things agriculture and science from those two.
Even their unconventional love story was an inspiration for me.
They were amazing role models, and I strived to achieve the great things they had, especially to have a family with the love of my life.
“Good afternoon, my lovelies,” Mama Giselle says, bringing me back. We speak as she practically glides around the rooms, greeting us one by one. When she makes it to Mama Liz, her smile softens even more, and she drapes her arms over her shoulder, looking up at her. “Hi, baby. Mmm, you smell good.”
“So, do you, beautiful,” Mama Liz replies before smacking her ass lightly. “I just wanna eat you up.”
“Alright, ew,” I say, covering my ears. “I do not wanna hear all that this early in the morning.”
“Don’t even start, Kay,” Mama Liz laughs before kissing her wife and then pulling out the chair for her. “You and whatever big-headed lil girl you’re entertaining at the moment probably say way worse.”
Zee snickers, and I shoot her a look. She just shrugs before smiling and turning back to fix Sera’s plate.
“Ain’t nobody entertaining no big-headed nothing,” I defend, plopping down in a seat on the other side of Sera. “The only big-headed anything I’m dealing with is sitting right here.” I motion to Zee. She rolls her eyes, and I laugh. “What?”
“Girl, fuck you,” she laughs.
“Aye, watch yo mouth around my baby,” I joke, and she falls out laughing. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much. I loved her laugh.
“Last time I checked, I’m the one who pushed her out.”
“So?” I ask, eyebrow raised. “I been here since day one, so she’s practically mine too, is she not?”
“She is,” she says, shyly. Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away, almost embarrassed. “I-I didn’t mean anything by it...”
The room goes quiet, and I realize that I probably took it a little too far.
So, I stand, rounding the table as I take the plate and spoon from her hand.
I set them on the table to allow Sera to continue to feed herself before taking Zee’s hands in mine.
I squat down beside her and squeeze her hands lightly. She looks down at me.
“Hey, I’m sorry.” I apologize. “I didn’t mean anything deeper by that. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Kay…I don’t want you to think that you aren’t appreciated because you are,” she states. “I know you were just joking, but it brought back memories that I’d rather not reminisce about right now.”
“So, again, I say that I’m truly sorry,” I say once more. “I took it too far. I love having you and Princess Sera in my life like this. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
“Neither would I.” She smiles, wrapping her arms around my neck to pull me in for a hug.
We stayed like that for a few seconds before I pulled away and kissed her forehead lightly.
Once I was sure she was okay, I fixed her a plate of food and then fixed my own before taking my seat again.
I began to eat, but I could feel eyes on me, so I turned to see both my moms staring.
They shared a knowing look, but I chose to ignore it.
They knew how I felt about Zseyah, but they never pushed.
They believed that if it were meant to be, it would be.
The rest of lunch went by without any more misspoken words, and eventually Morgan showed up.
Of course, our parents fussed at her for being late with the deliveries again, but it wasn’t anything too bad.
They finished off their lecture by thanking her and then fixing her something to eat, which she happily scarfed down.
After we finished eating, we all ventured off in different directions.
Zseyah had taken Sera down to visit my grandparents, who lived right down the road, while my parents went back to work like they did every day after lunch.
Weekends did not stop their hustle. Meanwhile, Morgan and I had ducked off to go kick it by the pond with a few of our cousins who lived around the orchard as well
As soon as we arrived, a blunt was lit and passed around.
Morgan and I took up residence in two of the empty lawn chairs to enjoy the breeze as the blunt made its rounds.
By the third round, it had begun to kick in, and I could feel myself become one with the air around me.
I didn’t smoke often, but I did enjoy partaking every now and then, and being around my wild-ass cousins was always one of those times.
Shit, I needed to be high to deal with their foolishness.
“Aye, I see you brought Zseyah’s fine ass up here again,” my cousin Warren said. I rolled my eyes. “She still thick as fuck.”
“Bruh, chill yo ass all the way out,” I warn. “You and Morgan stay on the same time, but I keep telling y’all that she’s off limits.”
“Shit, yo pussy ass ain’t never admitted your feelings, so what’s wrong with us shooting our shots?” Another of my cousins, Rylie, asks. “Mamas is fine, so of course we’re gonna acknowledge that.”
“Respectfully, though,” I state, looking at the people around me.
I sigh before sitting up. “I love y’all, I do, but I’m only gonna tell y’all this one last time.
Zseyah is off limits. Always has been for y’all and anyone else that tries to step to her, so leave it alone, a’ight?
” They nod, rolling their eyes, but they mumble agreements.
“Also, next time you bring her up, you better do it with respect. Stop fucking objectifying her. She’s more than just her body, and I would appreciate it if y’all respected that. ”
“Heard,” My oldest cousin, Dario, says. He’s been quiet this whole time, but I knew he’d been listening.
He takes one more puff of the blunt before blowing it out and glancing at me.
“We hear you, but for real, Kay…when are you gonna tell that woman how you feel? It’s been years.
You’re literally raising a daughter together, yet you can’t admit your feelings? What’s up with that?”
I start to say something, but I can’t, because he’s right.
It wasn’t that simple. I wanted her more than anything, but I knew that even if I asked for more, she’d be hesitant.
She was still heartbroken and traumatized thanks to Sasha.
She hadn’t even dated or entertained anyone since that breakout.
When I asked her about it once, she told me it’s because she wasn’t ready.
She admitted that she wasn't sure if she’d ever been ready to date again.
Did the thought of never getting a chance to be more for her break my heart?
Yes, but I knew that my feelings in this matter came second.
She was the one who had gotten their heart broken in one of the worst ways possible.
I can’t and would never be the type of person to rush her or pressure her into doing something she wasn’t ready for or comfortable with yet.
All I knew was that if the chance ever presented itself, I would be the first one in line.
Hell, there wouldn’t even be a line, because I’d make sure I was everything and more for her.
“One day,” I simply say, before settling back into my seat with a sigh. “If that time comes.”
“When that time comes,” Dario corrects, and I nod sheepishly.